PERFORMANCE OF THE INTERNAL JUGULAR-VEIN AFTER FUNCTIONAL NECK DISSECTION

The objective of this study was to assess internal jugular vein perfor mance after functional neck dissection in routine and extended head an d neck surgical procedures, including bilateral neck dissections, trea tment of radiation failures, and those combined with microvascular fre e grafts. Because the indications for functional neck dissection in ou r practice have increased, it is important to assess the use of the pr ocedure in these circumstances. Although previous work has suggested t he patency of the internal jugular vein after functional neck dissecti on, actual flow rates have not been investigated. The function of the dissected internal jugular vein was analyzed with duplex ultrasound at least 4 weeks after treatment. Maximal venous flow rates were evaluat ed. The results of this study will be presented and discussed.